Golden Horn

The Golden Horn (Ottoman Turkish: Haliç) is a horn-shaped inlet on the European side of Constantinople that is fed by two small streams. It was a natural harbor where both Byzantine and Ottoman Empire fleets and commercial ships were anchored.

The Golden Horn was an old trading harbor and a popular residential area during the Byzantine period. Its entrance was blocked by a huge chain to stop unwanted ships from entering.

In 1502, Leonardo da Vinci projected a bridge to be built over the Golden Horn for the Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II. It was intended to be a single span of 240 meters (787 feet), 8 meters (26 feet) wide, and 24 meters (78 feet) high from the water, but it was never built, as the Sultan did not believe a bridge could cross such a distance without breaking.